When should plant deer resistant shrubs in your flower garden? How often should you water them? How much fertilizer should I give them? How do you care for deer resistant shrubs? Here is a summary of the pros and cons of deer resistant plants that you might consider growing next to your deer feeders, trails, or tables.
Butterfly Bush (synonymous with Stachys) grows well as a weedless, weed-free garden shade the ground around your home. In fact, Stachys have been successfully transplanted to other gardens where deer resistant shade plants have failed, as well as to lawns. Most butterfly bushes are perennials that will bloom year round, though some varieties bloom only one season. Some varieties of butterfly bush, such as the Red Cardinal flower bush, are fast growing and will fill your yard in just two to three years.
Butterfly Bush grows very well even in areas where deer resistant shrubs might not be an ideal choice. Although the Red Cardinal flower bushes do require nearly full sunlight, they will bloom well even in shaded areas, early spring through late summer. In fact, you will find that they bloom so early that you will likely be able to see them on the foliage by the first week of spring. However, during the winter season, you will need to water them every few days to keep them green and looking healthy. By the third week of spring, you should water them once a month, but never more than once or twice in a day.
Black Eyed Susans are another attractive option for your garden in the dead of winter. These beautiful evergreen shrubs have medium sized flowers and smooth bushy leaves that attract butterflies. They can survive cold weather well, and the foliage stays green year round. These plants will bloom profusely in the late spring and will fill up your yard with wonderful fragrances as the flowers come out.
A quick look at the history of the Heather shrub will tell you that it was chosen as the first plant to be planted by the Incas in the Sacred Valley of the Inca. They used the plant to make funeral pyres because the powder they sprinkled over the funeral pyre contained saltpeter which is a strong antidote against poisons. Thus, the name “heather” came about because it is a salt-based plant. Many Native Americans still use the herb to this day in making herbal medicines and teas.
Shade tolerant plants that are deer resistant plants will not succumb to severe heat and sunlight. This means that you can plant these plants even when it is raining. This versatility makes these shade gardens an all season landscaping garden.
You will need to plant shade plants in the areas where temperatures are extreme either during the day or at night. An example would be to plant tall ferns and shrubs in full sun but in the afternoon, you could place some ferns and shaded trees around the planting area. If temperatures remain high into the afternoon, then you should protect these plants using plastic or netting. Otherwise you might find that they die from loss of moisture.
When choosing which plants to use, you need to place them in areas that get maximum sunlight. Tall growing plants with nice foliage and bushy leaves are great for providing wildlife habitat in your landscape. Bushy shrubs and climbing plants will add interest to a plain area. And don’t forget that you should mulch your plants as a preventative measure against deer.